Page 413 - Week 02 - Tuesday, 4 March 2008
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breakfast on the day of the Olympic Torch Relay. It is in the middle of our school holidays. It will be well supported by the local community and by local ballooning enthusiasts and the local ballooning fraternity.
No matter how much bleating comes from the insignificant shadow minister, who has nothing positive to say, ever on any issue, particularly in relation to the promotion of tourism in the ACT and the promotion of this outstanding community event, I will make a prediction now: this shadow minister is more interested in his own personal advancement and will drag down the reputations of anyone who is involved in this event for the sake of his own personal advancement—
MR SPEAKER: Come back to the subject matter of the question.
MR BARR: We have seen that.
MR SPEAKER: Come back to the question.
MR BARR: There are countless people in this chamber who can attest to the sordid behaviour that you see from the shadow minister.
Mr Smyth: On a point of order, Mr Speaker: there are imputations in what the minister has just said, and he must withdraw them.
MR SPEAKER: I just asked the minister to come back to the subject matter of the question.
MR BARR: Thank you, Mr Speaker. We all heard the allegations that the shadow minister made in annual report hearings last week and we know the lengths to which he is prepared to go to smear the reputation of individuals under parliamentary privilege. What he does not like is when people point out his appalling behaviour, and there are other people—
MR SPEAKER: Come back to the subject matter of the question.
MR BARR: Thank you, Mr Speaker. The government will continue to support a balloon event in the ACT, one that is value for money. This government will always ensure that the interests of ACT taxpayers are put ahead of personal interests such as those demonstrated by Mr Smyth through this whole episode.
MR SPEAKER: A supplementary question, Mr Smyth.
MR SMYTH: Thank you, Mr Speaker. Given that the minister’s story has just changed again—
MR SPEAKER: Come to the question.
MR SMYTH: what is the $60,000 being spent on, and by whom, given that the Balloon Aloft fee is now only $10,000?
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